The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-23
A Wild. Weird Tale About Man. . Sake,
aad . Flroproef Safe.

aAd . F1reproef Safe.
Twenty years ago I was the managing
clerk in an English merchants onlce. My
work was heavy. Many nights I sat at my
books until into tho small hours Of the morn
ing. Once or twice actually dozed Of, into a
sleep, to be awakened by the woman who
cleaned the various rooms coming to her work.
The house I was connected with had
branch establishment In India doing large
business, and many curious consignmsnts OF
goods. quite outside Of our usual articles Of
commerce. passed through our hands. Price,
less cloths and native fabrics. brass and gold
ornaments set with precious stones. collections
Of stones. botanical specimens, birds, animals
everything. in fact. until at times the con-
fonts of the cases, II opened and spread out.
would have made very average museum.
Ono afternoon alarge box was delivered from
one Of the ships labelled ITO be kept In mod
erately warm place." was away from the
warehouse at tho time Of its arrival. and the
men placed 1t In the outer office. On my re-
turn I casually noticed the case in passing.
Sy HEAVIER s ans Ths was
q mere accidental observance. .
ny pyas o sss %ssS 15 xs h1RRs s
bureau a large iron fireproof safe some siI feet
books and three or four chairs completed the
@ .as tG sq aFss Sadnf
and paced about tho room for few minutes,
joining iT rocm M startled me.
stepped to tho door. and opened IT,
fars ws a laSn after sis's sanee L
must have been fancy, and returned to my
desk. leaving the door open. . -.
sound came from the Same direction, curious.
rubbing sound. undeniably, within the next
tSo door essdns t to Where Sitting
to and Is ad 70 tn saS
'n9 5000 aooer tran ai iS With horror.
S s lily ts
head head raised hisher and higher antii nearly
You'd. and there I stood powerless. unarmed.
anf
from those q the reptile 9w
Seeing Seeing the open safe. I rushed ii and shut the
SS h ha SAFE S0 hodnS the door
open about half an inch.
But for that boEk Tonid have ts spssedy o ss5
tried to draw the book inside but the. snake,
moving simultaneously with myself. had
fury. thinFlns I Go safe part and parcel Of my
sei.. ...u ,nlUIn its coils around 1t. compress:
Ing the door 5h ss SSas
and iussed at It without avail, The ,perspI-
ns sss dSwa the
ing the door ajar seemed to be az the point
q % s ssD fer door ssssh ssd t. S
floor In o dead faint.
m nsp senses ss rsfnrned and aithopsS areadtay
ersmPed BY the position into whifh had t sub ts
Sss p the SS ss
the narrow opening. at the two folds which en-
ereea refuge feeling horrible iassiaS
erlng movement that told me the reptile had
cious kernel Of myself.
BY an effort collected my Ideas; d dn Scp ia
tradsr. fHSsW that Il Was easto@sry to feed
s sna as e ssiSns
Of stupor. This one might have hay ., had l9ng
bars the End Of the
case, and finding me attacked me by instinct:
grew calmer and investigated my position
my rayi foot rested on SOME l.nG uneven. fpiekod
It up and found Il 70 be one q tn2so long INK
sbaTp as q razor, tempered like a Damascus
blade, the handle being about fve INCHES long
the cash book. these knives frequently being
shut IN the Books BY the csroleas clerks. TAX
Ing the knife n my right hand ! thrust Y into
was horrible. sickening tearing sound, and
quickly Withdrawing the blade, / thrust Y
or fonrth stab saw the folds relax and go slid
ing down the sides Of the safe to the noof. lying
there squirming and writhing In COMMISSIONS n ,u
all seemed quiet; then opening the door. l
dashed across the room into the outer oinee'
rnsI,sd 10 the nearest police station. AT nIst
NV story was dlscredfted, and was almost
locked up as being drunk. but eyentgaily Tour
We found the reptile 9eafiy dead, 9nt s AL
trcmuioas when touched the cuts With me
S Zen aniia SsIIna -nSaElI ssysrsd tho. bo1y q